Akio Akaboshi (BSO viola, 1967-1968, exchange with Japan Philharmonic Orchestra) oral history interview: Akaboshi, Akio, interviewee, Akaboshi, Yayoi, interviewee, 1992-09-18T00:00:00+00:00, 2023-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

Cassette 36: Oral history conducted by William Moyer on September 18, 1992.

PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT

Tape 36, Side A

Interviewer: Bill Moyer Interviewee: Akio Akaboshi Location: Matsuyama Harbor Date: September 18, 1992

0:11 INTERVIEW BEGINS

1:11-1:30 retirement from the BSO 8-10 years ago

1:46-3:15 came to Boston in 1967 in exchange program with the BSO; exchange program established by George ZAZOFSKY in 1966

3:15-4:40 Akeo WATANABE was the conductor of the Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra; selected AKABOSHI for the exchange program

4:40-7:56 Toshi KIKKAWA helped with many of the logistics of travel to Boston; arrived to Boston in September with his children

7:56-10:08 family was not musical; studied violin in grammar school but stopped due to wartime;

10:08-11:57 after the war, wanted to study music; went to Tokyo to study in music academy; joined the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra when it first began

11:57-16:18 first impressions were that BSO was a very high level; LEINSDORF was conductor, and AKABOSHI enjoyed LEINSDORF's conducting; sat with Robert KAROL as chair partner (both in Japan when Robert was in Japan, and in Boston); impressions of various other violinist

16:18-18:12 first performances were beautiful, some brief memories of fellow orchestra members

18:12-19:10 travel while in the United States; visited Washington

19:15-21:35 salary was paid by the JPSO, while BSO continued salaries for those who went to Japan; exchange with George HUMPHREY, who went to Japan for the year that Akio went to BSO; JPSO members called him an "old man"

21:35-26:02 LEINSDORF's conducting, positive memories of performances; STOKOWSKY was guest conductor, impression of him was quiet, quick to scold and discipline the orchestra with a "strong eye", created a "magical" sound, awkward conducting

26:07-28:01 felt the "American spirit" in the Pops performances; played showtunes; playing did not feel very elegant but was still fun to do

28:01-31:17 during week off after Tanglewood, worked with students; studied with William KROLL in New York

31:17-33:18 JPSO's summer programs; brief but annual, with good audiences

33:22-35:17 return to Japan after year of exchange; felt he returned changed in a positive way, new sense of humor, broadened sense of mind and music

36:23 INTERVIEW CONCLUDES



Interviewer: Bill Moyer Interviewee: Yayoi Akaboshi Location: Matsuyama Harbor Date: September 18, 1992

36:28 INTERVIEW BEGINS

36:48-39:38 early life, meeting Akio through their aunts who introduced them; memory of becoming seasick and Akio offering comfort; studied music herself

39:38-40:50 Akio went to Tokyo while Yayoi stayed in Matsuma to teach

40:50-43:02 gave administrative support to JPSO Nippon Cultural Broadcasting and Fuji Television subsidiaries stopped unexpectedly and the orchestra; members split over what to do, so half became new Japan Philharmonic (operating without support), and one which stayed with the old and took the radio to court; Akio and Yayoi stayed with the old orchestra and won a legal settlement from Fuji television

43:02 RECORDING ENDS

Tape 36, Side B

0:11 RECORDING BEGINS: YAYOI AKABOSHI CONT'D

0:11-1:20 old Japan Philharmonic operates today as a co-operative; during this time, Yayoi worked in JPSO administrative offices;

1:20-5:05 brought children with them to Boston; children could attend school and learned some English; in Japan, students study English for six years so the children were still too young; sense that the travel to Boston was good for the children

5:05-6:02 stayed at Windsor Mountain School while at Tanglewood

6:10-7:37 connections with other BSO families, like the ROTENBERG family, the GAUGER family, the PLASTERs

7:58-9:07 life in Matsuyama after Akio has retired; maintained relationships still, JPSO members come to perform on Matsuyama

9:54 INTERVIEW CONCLUDES